Does Yoga Make You Cry?

I love yoga days because it’s usually a break in my challenging workouts during the week but also it helps me to lengthen my muscles that have been tightened to the extreme, and can tend to hold on to kinks and resulting in minor issues later on.

Stretching just makes life better, right? And if you don’t already currently do any stretching because it “hurts”…for crying out loud, You need it more!!!!

Anyway, keeping to my “mellow” mood of the morning and not wanting to already let go of my calm and zen; I’ll reflect a bit on what exactly went on during my practice this morning. It was an epiphany of sorts, and a deeper understanding of me and life.

I’ll be honest and say that we all go through our stresses in life; our ups and downs; our highs and lows…and so on and so forth. It is something I am currently learning to deal with in a higher place of understanding when I am confronted with crappola.

And that is what has happened throughout the past decade or so of my life. (which I’m sure we can all agree for each of us, right?) Now, I’m not one to condone complaining but for the sake of this blog post; just hear me out.

I’ve had some major life “stuff” (for lack of a stronger, less “family-friendly” word) thrown at me (or should I just say hurled my way) in the previous 10+ years. Not all the same stuff, but lots of unbalanced and unhealthy and spirit & mind & faith crushing stuff.

I had a realization at one point (and it was at that point, I was curled up on the bathroom floor bawling my eyes out and just feeling sooo sorry for myself) when I looked up and saw my two young children peering around the corner of the room to see how mom was doing..or maybe what the heck is mom doing????

It hit me like a ton of bricks. This life isn’t just about me anymore. (was it ever???) It’s about so much more. It’s about the family and friends I have right in front of my face. It was one of those moments where you just have to peel yourself up from the lowest of lows and will yourself to go forward.

one. step. at. a. time.

And so I did. I vowed at that moment to not let my pity party overtake the more important things of my life. That meant that my children and hubby were the central heart of those “important” things of my life.

After that moment of truth, I went on to deal with my “stuff” and just appreciate the blessings I had; versus looking at what I currently “didn’t have”. We can all get caught up in that type of mindset, and I believe it’s because we’ve been taught to do just that. The only way out of that negative process is to focus on what we want MORE of in our life.

Life did balance out and I was a happy camper once again…but it wasn’t all butterflies and rose gardens, to say the least.

And you know what? so what????

That’s right! So what??? I’ve been blamed for things that had nothing to do with me, I’ve been hurt, betrayed, disrespected, and more…. and tell me, who hasn’t at some point or another?

but so what?

Who am I to give power to people who don’t understand, respect and honor the person that I am today? I know in my heart that I do my best and love on people as much as I possibly can (sometimes TOO much so) but if there are those who already have a perception about me and don’t see the real intent I have; SO WHAT?

And that brings me full circle back to my yoga practice today. I feel like my level of understanding my own limits; and those of people around me, make me a better person. Pushing my limits of fitness, understanding, love, spirituality and more is what my life is all about. In my practice today, I used that focus and decided to just be in the moment and stop limiting myself or judging my limitations. Just be and be grateful for that journey today. This made me actually cry through my practice and I know that proves that I am working on expanding my body (through flexibility and strength); my mind (through the personal growth I am working on improving every day) and my spirit (of just being grateful for today, no judgments or criticisms).